Two Different Dress Outfits: Printed and Plain

Two simple dress outfits twice in a row! One for a cooler day with long sleeves and one on a hotter day. I'm following along with the challenges each day for JaNEWary, although I'm a bit behind on blogging what I wear, I'm sharing every day on instagram. I wasn't really happy with either of these outfits, if it hadn't been for the challenge I wouldn't have worn them. But I guess that's why I'm doing the challenge, trying to look at my wardrobe differently!


Here's what I wore to go shopping with my grandparents:

Dress: Leona Edmiston Paris tassel print wrap dress
Shoes: Wittner 'Jasmarie' studded sandals
Bag: Balenciaga part time in black 2010 with SGH


The style prompt for the day was to wear a 'dress that gives you shape', so I went for a wrap dress again. There was a similar theme for the DAREcember challenge I participated in, and I wore a wrap dress then too.

I really wasn't feeling the love with this dress when I wore it out all day. I am still keeping it in my wardrobe for the moment as it is a good piece to wear in the office. (Last wore it to the office in the third trimester!) I'm planning to wear it again when I go back to work and see how I feel about it then before I make the final decision on whether it stays or leaves my wardrobe.


Last worn: printed wrap dress, studded sandals, Balenciaga Part Time bag.

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Here's what I wore to go to the clinic and get groceries:

Sunglasses: Rayban new Wayfarers
Dress: Jeanswest deep pink ruffle neckline dress
Belt: Asos skinny pale pink belt
Shoes: Asos 'five star' leather sandals
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff Love cross body bag in grey


I know what you're thinking - "that's a very overdressed outfit for stopping by the child health clinic and grabbing groceries on the way home"...The style challenge for the day was 'overdress because you can'. And I certainly felt overdressed (and awkward!) in this outfit.

I've been looking at the dress in my wardrobe for a while wanting to wear it but feeling it was too dressy for everyday wear with baby, so it was nice to get a chance to wear it at least. It is pretty, but wearing it out for a few hours just confirmed for me it's not the best dress to wear when looking after baby T. Still keeping it in my wardrobe though as it will be useful for when I go back to work.


Last worn: Ray Ban Wayfarer, pink dress, pastel belt, Asos leather sandals, Rebecca Minkoff Love bag.

Linking up with What I Wore, Whatcha Wearing Wednesday, Style Me Wednesday, Trendy Wednesday, Thursday Favourites, Throw Back Thursday, Spotlight Weekly, Fab Favourites today.

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Blue! Printed Maxi Dress, Lace Pencil Skirt and Teething Necklaces

Two more outfits as I continue on with the 'JaNEWary' style challenge. Both of these outfits fit the prompt for the day, but neither were what I would have worn if I wasn't playing along with the challenge. It's good to wear more of my wardrobe and avoid falling into a style rut though, that's one of the benefits of following along with a monthly challenge.


Here's what I wore to go out with family:

Sunglasses: Rayban new Wayfarers
Necklace: Nibbly Bits Abacus necklace in pop
Tank: Jeanswest Jenni basic singlet in Royal Lilac purple
Skirt: Asos blue textured lace pencil skirt
Shoes: Asos 'five star' leather sandals
Bracelets: the usual plus Hermes pink clic clac
Bag: Louis Vuitton MM damier azur neverfull


The style challenge for the day was to 'wear something outside your comfort zone'. I don't really own anything I'm uncomfortable in, if I do have it in my wardrobe I usually make the decision to get rid of it when I next wear it. I thought that wearing a pencil skirt casually would be a good thing for me to try again. I've tried a few times on the blog to wear a pencil skirt outside of the office, but I always feel I can't dress them down enough.

Wore this pretty lace pencil skirt with a simple tank and baby T's teething necklace. The last time I wore this pencil skirt was to the office - when I was in the third trimester!

Even though the pencil skirt has an elasticated waist and is really stretchy and comfortable to wear, I wasn't entirely comfortable in this outfit. The longer length of the pencil skirt came in tricky with picking baby up and putting him down a lot. Also felt very overdressed for going out with our families to pick up the photos from the photo shoot we had a few weeks back. I couldn't help thinking that with a blazer or cardi over the top, I'd wear this to work! Maybe the problem is that my office is so casual to begin with. Was definitely an outfit outside of my comfort zone, I much prefer pencil skirts for the office.


Last worn: Ray-Ban Wayfarers, purple tank, lace pencil skirt, Asos sandals, Louis Vuitton damier ebene neverfull.

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Here's what I wore to have lunch with my family today:

Necklace: Nibbly Bits Wilma necklace in pale daffodil (new purchase)
Dress: Jeanswest 'Chantelle' crochet detail blue printed maxi dress (on sale!)
Shoes: Asos 'five star' leather sandals
Bracelets: the usual plus gifted blue and silver bracelet stack
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff Love cross body bag in grey


This was one of the days I wished I wasn't doing the style challenge, as I had wanted to wear a different dress. The challenge was 'wear a colour that enhances your eyes', so I went with this blue maxi dress and not the other dress I had been thinking of wearing. This dress is lovely and a wardrobe favourite, I love the back lace detail on it, but it's just not what I would have worn if I didn't have the challenge telling me to wear blue.

Still a pretty dress, and appropriate to wear for a lunch with family. My family had planned a big surprise...my grandparents had flown in! So many people had been keeping it a secret for me to have an amazing surprise. It was incredible to see them again and have them meet baby T. I haven't seen them for a very long time, it is wonderful having them here. I'd worn my new teething necklace in anticipation of having to keep baby T amused during lunch, but hardly had to use it at all as he was getting so much love and attention from everyone, we rotated him around so everyone could eat!


Last worn: blue printed maxi dress, Asos sandals (above), Rebecca Minkoff Love bag.

Linking up with Mix It Mondays, Let It Shine, Modest Monday, Style to Inspire, Manic Monday, Real Mom Style, Style Sessions, Confident Twosday, Wardrobe Wednesday, What I Wore today.

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Summer Casual Denim Shorts and Printed Tops Outfits. Rebecca Minkoff Love and Louis Vuitton Speedy Bandouliere

Here's what I wore to go out with baby T:

Sunglasses: Rayban new Wayfarers
Shirt: French Connection black paisley printed empire top
Shorts: Jeanswest black denim cuff shorts
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs studded mouse flats in grey
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff Love cross body bag in grey


The style challenge for the day was to 'explore your wardrobe and wear a long lost friend'. I thought of this top right away! I discovered it during my big wardrobe clear out as we turned my wardrobe room into baby's nursery, and happily wore it during pregnancy as it accommodated the bump. I haven't worn it for a little while since, so I am hoping to keep wearing it and not let it get lost in my wardrobe again. It is one of those pieces that is quite limited by how you can wear it, as it really only looks good with skinny jeans. But I have so many fond memories with this top, it's a real oldie and I am not ready to let it leave my wardrobe yet.

Although it does look best with jeans, it looked like it was going to be a hot day that morning, so I put on some shorts as baby and I headed out to the books and rhymes session at the local library. On our way home after getting the groceries, it started to rain. It actually felt quite cold in the afternoon, I wished I had worn jeans!


Last worn: RayBan Wayfarers, paisley print top, denim shorts, studded mouse flats, Rebecca Minkoff Love bag.

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Here's what I wore to catch up with my mother's group:

Sunnies: Rayban new Wayfarers
Necklace: Nibbly Bits Abacus necklace in pop
Tank: Atmos&Here 'Florida' tank in Aztec print
Shorts: Jeanswest denim cuff shorts
Shoes: Balenciaga studded sandals in sorbet RGGH
Bracelets: the usual plus two beaded Sportsgirl Butterfly Foundation bracelets, Roie Designs swarovski crystal bracelet and House of Harlow sunburst wrap bracelet in cobalt
Bag: Louis Vuitton Damier Ebene 30 speedy bandouliere (with Coach feather bag charm)

Had a busy morning! Baby T and I had some appointments to get to, and my mother's group was having their first catch-up of the new year. The style challenge for the day was to 'wear something that best represents your personality'. I'll admit, I had no idea what to do for that prompt! So I snapped a pic of my bracelet stack. My wrist was layered with a variety of bracelets, some small and dainty, some big and bold, some inspirational, the same ones I wear every day and that have sentimental value....I felt that mixed bag summed up my personality!


I'm trying to review all of my new purchases after I wear them, to be more thoughtful with what I'm buying and how it works with my current lifestyle and wardrobe. You can read more about why I'm doing this here.

This is the second wear of my new printed tank too, so my purchase review:
I'm glad I bought this. I love the print, and even though it's not my usual size I think it looks okay oversized. It works with maxi skirts, although does look better with denim. Still something I can see myself wearing in a few ways, maybe even with pencil skirts when I go back to work this year. I'm pleased I bought it. Not something I needed to buy, just something I wanted to buy, but still something that will get worn often.


Last worn: Wayfarers (see above), printed tank, denim shorts, Balenciaga studded sandals, Louis Vuitton Speedy B.

Linking up with Fab Favourites, Casual Friday, Passion 4 Fashion today.

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